Collapsible mast



Feb. 3, 1942. H. J. wooLsLAYER ETAL ,271,577

COLLAPSIBLE MAST Filed Aug. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 3,1942 2,271,577 COLLAPSIBLE M AST Homer J. Woolslayer, Erwin A. Campbell,and I Cecil Jenkins, Tulsa, Okla asslgnors to Lee C.

Moore & Company, Inc., poration of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a cor-'Application August 22, 1941, Serial Na -107,922

17 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible masts, and 'more particularly tooil well mastsor derricks that can be collapsed for transportation fromone location to another without being disassembled.

It is among provide a mast which is originally fabricated along theground, which can be quickly and easily raised and lowered as desiredwithout being taken apart, which can be readily transported from onelocation to another, which can be collapsed into a form small enough tobe within highway limit regulations, and which is suitable for permanentmounting on a truck or the like.

In accordance with this invention a mast is carried on a portable base,such as a support permanently mounted on a truck or other suitablevehicle. The mast is hinged between its top and bottom so that it can becollapsed to form upper and lower sections which are folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on the support. The bottom of the mast is pivotally and slidablyconnected to the support, and means is provided for moving thebottom ofthe mast along the support from one end to the other. A plurality oflinks are pivoted to the upper and lower sections of the mast and to itssupport in such a manner that when the bottom of the mast is moved alongthe support these links swing the two sections upwardly into alignmentto form an upright mast in operative position. The mast is lowered bymoving its bottom back toward the other end of the support. During thismovement the links swing the upper ends of the two sections of the mastdownwardlyin opposite directions so that they can fold down upon eachother.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view of our mast incollapsed position on a truck; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 isa rear end view of the truck and mast; Fig. 4' is a reduced side view ofthe mast in upright operative position; Fig. 5 is a rear view thereoflooking from the front of the truck; and Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical section through one side of the mast supportshowing the mounting of the bottom of the mast therein.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a. mast base or support I isrigidly mounted on the rear end of a truck from which it projectsrearwardly. This support includes a pair of laterally spaced horizontalchannels 2 that form supporting the objects of this invention to.

guide rails for the bottom of the mast. The mast is of the structuraltype. having four legs connected by girts and braces and carrying acrown-block 3 at its upper end. As shown in legs together at 1 so thatthe mast can be folded down upon itself into substantially horizontalposition as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the lower ends of thefront legs of the mast are disposed at the end of'the guide railsadjacent the draw-works 8 mounted on the truck; while the opposite endof the lowersection of the mast rests on a cross beam Sat the outer endof the supporting base I. The upper section of the mast extends forwardover the truck cab and rests on a cross bar Ill supported from the truckframe. The top or front portion of the upper section is hinged to therest of it so that it can be swung back alongside of the upper sec-Extending upwardly from both sides of base l are braces l2 which supporta pair of bearings l3 in which are pivotally mounted a pair of links itthat are substantially horizontal when the mast is collapsed asin Fig..1. The opposite ends of these links are pivotally connected. to themast at the points 'Iwhere the two sections are hinged together. Alsoprojecting upwardly from the truck is another set of braces IE to whichthe lower end of a set of links I! are pivotally connected. These linksextend upwardly over the draw-works with their outer ends pivotallyconnected to the ends of a pair of nearly horizontal links I8 thatextend back over links I! and up into the upper section of the mast towhich they are pivotally connected a short distance above hinges l. Thecentral portion of the set of links H is pivotally connected by linksiii to the lower ends of the rear legs of the mast.

Before the mast is raised fromcollpased position at the desiredlocation; the Jacks 2| that are pivotally suspended from the outer endof base I are swung down and-tightened down 021 blocks .22 as shown inFig. 4 so as to take the major portion of the weight of themast oil thetruck wheels. The folded-back front portion of the masts upper sectionis then swung forward into its normal position and locked there. Thebottom of the lower section of the mast can now be moved toward theouter end of support I by any suitable means. For example, as shown inFigs. 1 and 6, the lower ends of the front legs of the mast are providedwith downwardly extending lugs 23 that are pivotally connected to thelinks of an endless chain 24 extending around sprockets 26 and 21 at theopposite ends of the support. The outer sprocket is joumaled in thesupport, but the inner sprocket projects from a gear-box 28 mounted onthe truck and through which the sprocket is driven from the transmissionof the truck or from any other suitable power source, such as a separateengine for the draw-works. The upper strand of the chain pulls the legstoward the outer end of the mast support, with wheels rolling in guiderails 2. As the top of the masts lower section is prevented by links Mfrom moving outwardly at this time, it is compelled to swing upwardly.At the same time the outwardly moving bottom of the mast, through linksl9, pulls the set of links I1 and swings theirouter ends upwardly. Thiscauses the links I8 attached thereto to simultaneously push the uppersection of the mast upwardly into upright position in alignment with thelower section as shown in Fig. 4. As soon as all of the mast legs arebrought into alignment in this manner the front legs are detachablylocked together by any suitable latching means 29, preferably such ascan be operated from the ground. This general procedure is just reversedfor lowering the mast.

The mast preferably is provided with a tubing platform 3| that projectsfrom the front side of the upper section and is hinged thereto in such amanner that when the mast is collapsed the platform folds down more orless flat against the .top side of the upper section, as shown in Figs.

land 2. The mast may also be provided with a rod basket 32 hinged to afront leg of the upper section so that it can be swung around the legand into the mast when the mast is lowered (Figs. 1 and 2).

According to the provisions of the patent statutes we have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of our invention, and have illustratedand described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment.However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims, the inventionamay be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom toform upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast alongthe support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and saidsupport for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form anupright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

2. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support and with said bottom adjacent one end of thesupport, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to thesupport, means for sliding said bottom of the mast toward the oppositeend of said support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sectionsand to the support adjacent said one end for swinging the sectionsupwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when said sliding of themast bottom occurs.

3. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast alongthe support, a link pivoted to the mast and said support for pullingsaid lower section up into upright position when said sliding of themast bottom ccurs, and means for simultaneously swinging said upper'section upwardly into alignment with the lower section whereby to forman upright mast.

4. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast alongthe support, a link pivoted tothe mast and said support for pulling saidlower section up into upright position when said sliding of the mastbottom occurs, and a plurality of links pivoted to the mast and supportfor simultaneously pushing said upper section up into alignment with thelower section whereby to form an upright mast.

5. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support,

means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support,means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, means forswinging said lower section upwardly into upright position when saidsliding of the mast bottom occurs, and a linkage system pivoted to themast and support for simultaneously pushing said upper section up intoalignment with the lower sec tion whereby to form an upright mast.

6. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponl themselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support,

'means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support,means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a pair oflinks hinged end to end and folded upon themselves with their outer endspivoted to the support and to said upper section, means for swingingsaid lower section upwardly into upright position when said sliding ofthe mast bottom occurs, and a link pivoted to said lower section and toone of said pair of links for simultaneously moving said pair of linkstoward alignment with each other whereby to Bush said upper section upinto alignment with the lower section in order to form an upright mast.

'7. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position With the lower sectionresting on said support,

means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support,means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a pair oflinks hinged end to end and folded-upon themselves with their outer endspivoted to the support and to said upper section, means for swingingsaid lower section upwardly into upright position when said sliding ofthe mast bottom oc- .curs,,and a link pivoted to said lower section andto the lower one of said pair of links substantially midway between itsends for simultaneously swinging said lower link upwardly whereby topush said upper section up into alignment sition with the lower sectionresting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast alongthe support, a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and saidsupport for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form anupright mast when tion with the lower section resting on said support,means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support,means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support, a

section and to the lower one of said pair of links substantially midwaybetween its ends, and means for sliding the bottom of the mast towardthe opposite end of said support whereby said links unfold said sectionsand swing them upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast.

12. A collapsible mast structure comprising a upon themselves insubstantially horizontal position with the lower section resting on saidsupport and with said bottom adjacent one end of the support, meanspivotally and slidably connecting said bottom .to the support, asubstan-: tially horizontal link pivoted to said lower sec- .tion and tosaid support adjacent said end, an

upper link and a shorter lower link hinged end.

to end and folded upon themselves with the upper end of the upper linkpivoted to said upper section and with the lower end of the lower linkpivoted to said support adjacent said end, a substantially horizontallink pivoted to said lower section adjacent said bottom and to the midportion of said lower link, and means for slidingthe bottom of the masttoward the opposite end of said support whereby said linksunfold saidsections and swing them upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast.

.13. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal po= sition with the lower sectionresting on said support, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, an endless chain connected to said bottom of themast, means for driving the chain to pull said bottom along the linkpivoted to said support and to the mast coaxially with the mast hingefor pulling said lower section up into upright position when saidsliding of the mast bottom occurs, and means for simultaneously swingingsaid upper section upwardly into alignment with the lower sectionwhereby to form an upright mast.

10. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support and with said bottom adjacent one-end of thesupport, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to thesupport, a link pivoted to the mast and to said support adjacent saidend, a pair of links hinged end to .end with their outer ends pivoted tothe support adjacent said end and to said upper section, a link pivotedto said lower section and to one of said pair of links, and means forsliding the bottom of the mast toward the opposite end of said supportwhereby said links unfold said sections and swing them upwardly intoalignment to form an upright mast. r

11. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to .form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said supthe mast coaxially with the mast hinge, a pair oflinks hinged end to end with their outer ends pivoted to the supportadjacent said end and to said upper section, a link pivoted to saidlower support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections andsaid support for swinging the secalong said rails to'move the bottom ofthe mast from one end to the other of the rails, and a plurality oflinks pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging thesections upwardly-into alignment to form an upright mast when said tomto form upper and lower sections folded upon themselves in substantiallyhorizontal position withthe lower section restingon said support, atubing platform hinged to said horizontal upper section and folded downon top of it, means pivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to thesupport, means for sliding said bottom of the mast along the support,and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and said support forswinging the sections upwardlyinto alignment to form an upright mastwhen said sliding of the mast bottom occurs, said platform being formedto swing outwardly away from said upper section into substantiallyhorizontal position when the mast is raised.

16. .A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and hottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support, said upper section being materially longer thanthe lower section and having its top portion hinged to it and swungbackwardly to shorten the upper section, means for detachably connectingsaid top portion rigidly to the remainder of said upper sectionin-alignment therewith, means pivotally and slidably connecting saidbottom to the support, means for sliding said bottom of the mast alongthe support, and a plurality of links pivoted to said sections and saidsupport for swinging the sections upwardly into alignment to form anupright mast when said sliding of the mast bottom occurs.

17. A collapsible mast structure comprising a support, a mast hingedbetween its top and bottom to form upper and lower sections folded uponthemselves in substantially horizontal position with the lower sectionresting on said support, said upper section being materially longer thanthe lower section and having a one-piece top portion hinged to it andswung backwardly in a substantially horizontal plane to shorten theupper section, means for detachably connecting said top portion rigidlyto the remainder of said upper section in alignment therewith, meanspivotally and slidably connecting said bottom to the support, means forsliding said bottom of the mast along the support, and a plurality oflinks pivoted to said sections and said support for swinging thesections upwardly into alignment to form an upright mast when saidsliding of the mast bottom occurs.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER.

ERWIN A, CAMPBELL.

CECIL JENKINS.

